Grants for the creative industries

Creative Europe MEDIA – TV and online content (production)

Grants from €70,000 to €2 million to produce series, films or documentaries for TV and online platforms. The amount depends on the production budget. At least 40% of the financing must already be secured from third parties (e.g. broadcasters, platforms).

Creative Europe MEDIA – European Slate Development

Grants of €90,000–€510,000 for independent production companies developing 3 to 5 films or series (fiction, animation, creative documentary) for international release. You need a proven track record: two works since 2020 commercially released in at least three other countries.

Creative Europe MEDIA – Video games and immersive content development

A grant of up to €200,000 (60% of costs) to develop a new narrative video game or interactive immersive experience (e.g. VR/XR). It is for game, XR and audiovisual studios that have commercially released a work since 2024.

EIT Culture & Creativity – Innovation projects for fashion, architecture and audiovisual (€20,000 then up to €900,000)

Two stages: first you get €20,000 to prepare a business development plan; then up to €900,000 (70% of costs) over 18 months to take your solution to market. For startups, scale-ups and companies in fashion, architecture and audiovisual media with a mature solution. The first deadline is very close (30 Oct 2026).

Cash Rebate Greece-Animate: 40% rebate for animation, interactive and AR/VR productions

You get back 40% of what you spend in Greece on an animation, interactive or VR/AR production, up to €8m per project. It is for small and medium production companies. The money is paid in one go after the production is finished and checked.

• first come, first served

Cash Rebate Greece-FTV: 40% rebate for film and TV productions

You get back 40% of what you spend in Greece on a film, series or documentary, up to €8m per project. The ESPA pot (€100m) is for small and medium production companies. You apply before shooting starts and get paid when the project is finished.

• first come, first served

Grants for tourism and farm-product processing businesses in Chios town, Mytilene and five small North Aegean islands

A 50–70% grant for existing small and medium businesses investing in tourism or in processing farm products. Only investments in Chios town, Mytilene town, Ikaria, Fournoi, Oinousses, Psara and Agios Efstratios qualify. Grants go up to €210,000.

• only some areas

Creative Europe MEDIA – European Film Distribution 2027 (for cinema distributors)

A grant of up to €1 million for cinema distributors, based on 2026 admissions for the non-national European films they released. The money is reinvested in new European films: co-production, buying distribution rights and promotion. Opens 3 Dec 2026 and closes 8 Apr 2027; in Greece you need a 'potential fund' of at least €9,000.

Creative Europe MEDIA – Innovative tools and business models

Grants covering up to 80% of costs for companies building tools or new business models for the audiovisual sector: online promotion and distribution of European films and series, audience data analytics, AI, greener production. There is no set maximum, but competition is strong.

Creative Europe MEDIA – European co-development

Grants for two or more production companies from different countries developing a film or series together. The amount is €120,000 for two partners (plus €60,000 per extra partner) or €200,000 for big fiction series. The coordinator needs a work commercially released in three other countries.

EIT Culture & Creativity – Spark: up to €30,000 for new fashion- and architecture-tech ventures

Up to €30,000 and a 9-month programme for people or teams without a company yet who are building a tech idea in fashion, architecture or materials. If selected, you must set up a company within 3 months. Up to 35 ideas will be chosen.

• new businesses only
• for innovative start-ups

‘Kainotomo in Crete’ – 75% grants for new innovative micro and small businesses

A 75% grant for new innovative micro and small businesses in Crete — either about to be set up or started since 1 January 2021. Plans of €30,000–€150,000, so grants of €22,500–€112,500. Your product or service must be demonstrably innovative and fit Crete’s priority sectors.

• new businesses only
• for innovative start-ups

LEADER Karditsa–Thessaliotida – 1st call for private investments, training and cooperation (P3-77-4.1)

Grants for investments in rural Karditsa and Thessaliotida: processing of farm and other products, crafts, tourism, services, energy and water saving, plus training and cooperation. €2.95m in total, with aid of 65–100% depending on the action. Applications until 15 December 2026.

• only some areas

Epicheiro Sterea – investment grants for existing SMEs in Central Greece

A 70% grant (75% for green projects) for existing small and medium businesses in Central Greece that invest in machinery, premises, software or promotion. Larger plans (€200k–€800k) can instead get 40–60%. You need two closed financial years (2023 and 2024), and applications are ranked against each other.

Investment grants for existing SMEs in the South Aegean’s priority sectors (tourism, agri-food, fisheries, renewables)

A 60% grant for existing small and medium businesses in the Cyclades and Dodecanese working in tourism and culture, agri-food, fisheries/aquaculture or renewable energy. Plans of €30,000–€400,000, so grants of €18,000–€240,000. You need two closed financial years and a main activity code on the call’s list.

LEADER Pella – 1st call for private business investments (P3-77-4.1)

Grants of up to 65% for small-business investments in rural Pella: processing of farm and other products, crafts, tourism and services. Businesses still being set up can apply. Applications until 18 December 2026; they are scored and ranked.

• only some areas

LEADER Imathia – 1st call for private business investments (P3-77-4.1)

Grants for small businesses investing in rural Imathia: 65% for units that process farm and other products and for forestry units, plus separate actions for crafts, tourism, services and energy or water saving. Businesses still being set up can apply. Applications until 14 Jan 2027; they are scored and ranked.

• only some areas

R&D and innovation grants for South Aegean SMEs working with research bodies

35–80% funding for research and innovation projects by South Aegean SMEs that have their own R&D team or work with a research body. Projects of €50,000–€250,000 for one firm or €80,000–€400,000 for a group of firms. It is a demanding application that needs a solid research plan.

• for research projects

LEADER Islands of Attica – 1st call for private investments (P3-77-4.1)

Grants of 60–80% for small-business investments on the islands of Attica (Aegina, Agistri, Salamina, Poros, Hydra, Spetses, Kythira–Antikythira) and in Troizinia–Methana: processing, crafts, tourism and food service, services, and energy or water saving. Businesses still being set up can apply. Applications from 20 Oct 2026 to 10 Feb 2027; they are scored and ranked.

• only some areas

LEADER Ioannina–Thesprotia – 1st call for private investments (P3-77-4.1)

Grants of up to 65% for small-business investments in rural Ioannina and Thesprotia (not in the city of Ioannina): processing, forestry, crafts, tourism and services. Businesses still being set up can apply. Applications from 20 Oct 2026 to 4 Feb 2027.

• only some areas

LEADER Larissa (AENOL) – 1st call for private investments (P3-77-4.1)

Grants for small-business investments across the Larissa regional unit except the city of Larissa: processing of farm and other products, forestry, crafts, tourism, services, and energy or water saving. Businesses still being set up can apply. Applications from 23 Oct 2026 to 28 Jan 2027; the aid rate for each action is in the call.

• only some areas

Planned: grants for new micro, small and medium businesses in Central Greece

Central Greece is preparing a €10 million call for business plans of new micro, small and medium businesses in smart-specialisation (RIS3) sectors. Expected in the second half of 2026; amounts, rates and rules are not yet announced.

• new businesses only

Social entrepreneurship & crafts (new Development Law scheme – expected)

A new Development Law scheme for social cooperative enterprises, cooperatives and micro craft businesses. The law already sets a low minimum project of €50,000 and no application fee. Expected by the end of 2026 – dates and budget are not official yet.

"New Opportunity": start-up grants for unemployed and part-time workers in Epirus (ΠΗΠΕ-06)

A 70–90% grant to start your own very small business in Epirus if you are unemployed or work part-time or seasonally. Your business plan can be €10,000–€50,000 (up to €60,000 with more than one founder). Closes 21 Oct 2026; applications are ranked against each other.

• new businesses only
• for unemployed founders

EUIPO SME Fund 2026 – vouchers for patents, plant varieties and geographical indications

The EU refunds part of the fees to protect an invention or a plant variety: up to €2,500 for a patent, up to €1,500 for a plant variety, and up to €2,000 for a geographical indication for craft or industrial products. The application is simple and online. Note: trade mark and design vouchers are used up for 2026, and the rest are first come, first served.

• first come, first served

Hiring subsidy for 5,000 unemployed people over 50 in private businesses (DYPA)

If you hire an unemployed person over 50 full-time, DYPA pays for 18 months €628 a month for men, €816.40 for women or €1,004.80 for long-term unemployed people (over 3 years registered) — up to €18,086 per hire. Alternatively, under the EU block exemption rules, you get 50% of the cost up to €1,000 a month for 12 or 18 months. You must not have cut staff, and you keep the worker for the whole period.

Hiring subsidy for unemployed women, with priority for mothers (DYPA)

If you hire an unemployed woman, DYPA pays 70% of wages and contributions for 12 months — 80% if she is the mother of a child up to 15, long-term unemployed, or the job is part-time. The subsidy can be extended by 3 months. Places are limited, so apply early.

European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) in Greece – free or discounted digital services

Greece's European Digital Innovation Hubs help you digitalise your business: a digital maturity check, testing technologies (such as AI) before you buy, training and help finding funding. Services are usually free or discounted. You get no cash; the value of the service counts as state aid.

TEPIX III Guarantee Fund – General Entrepreneurship (state-guaranteed bank loans)

You borrow from a bank and the Hellenic Development Bank (HDB) guarantees 70% of the loan, with no guarantee fee. The bank therefore asks for less collateral (at most 30% of the loan) and the interest rate is cut by 2–3 points for the first 2 years. The bank still decides whether to lend.

TEPIX III Guarantee Fund – micro and small businesses up to 5 years old (80% state guarantee)

For young businesses up to 5 years old: HDB guarantees 80% of the bank loan with no guarantee fee and cuts the interest rate by 2–3 points for the first 2 years. Investment loans up to €1.5m and working capital up to €200,000. The bank still decides whether to lend.

• new businesses only

Just Transition: investment grants for existing SMEs in Western Macedonia and the Megalopolis area (Phase C)

A 70% grant (micro and small firms) or 60% (medium firms) for sizeable investments by existing businesses in Western Macedonia and the Megalopolis area. Projects must be between €300,000 and €12m. Apply by 16 Nov 2026; proposals are ranked against each other.

• only some areas

Just Transition: investment grants for new and start-up SMEs in Western Macedonia and the Megalopolis area (Phase C)

A 70% grant (micro and small firms) or 60% (medium firms) for anyone setting up a new business, or who started after 1 Jan 2025, in Western Macedonia or the Megalopolis area. Projects must be €300,000–€12m, so it suits serious investments. Apply by 16 Nov 2026.

• only some areas
• new businesses only

Paid 6-month work-experience placements for unemployed people aged 30+ in private businesses (DYPA)

Your business hosts an unemployed person aged 30+ for 6 months and DYPA pays their allowance directly. They gain experience and you try out a worker without paying their allowance. Applications stay open until the budget runs out.

Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs – 1 to 6 months with an experienced entrepreneur abroad

If you are starting a business or have less than 3 years' experience as an entrepreneur, you can spend 1 to 6 months working with an experienced entrepreneur in another country. The EU pays €600–€1,200 a month towards travel and living costs, depending on the country. It does not cover everything and you need a full business plan.

• new businesses only

TEPIX III Microcredit Fund (micro-loans of €3,000–€25,000)

A small loan of €3,000–€25,000 for micro businesses and the self-employed, with no property collateral. 60% of the loan is interest-free (75% for women-led businesses) and free mentoring is included. You need at least 1 year in business.

Just Transition hiring subsidy: up to 100% of wage costs for 12 months (DYPA)

If you hire an unemployed person full-time in Western Macedonia, the Megalopolis area or a small island, DYPA pays €829.50 a month (70%) for 12 months, or €1,185 a month (100%) if the worker comes from lignite or energy. Money is given until it runs out, so apply quickly.

• only some areas
• first come, first served